Methods for Accessing Media Over the Internet

• US 20130254820A1
• Filed: 05/09/2013
• Published: 09/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Minerva Networks, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Minerva Networks, Inc.
• Inventors: Fritsch, Jean-Georges, Bonomi, Mauro, Sweeney, Patrick James, Osborne, Randolph, Morris, Charles Francis, Majors, Reed, Degrange, Francis Michael, Locke, Ian, Ng, Johnny C.Y., Cao, Yousheng, Liu, Li, Do, Nam Phu Thanh, Howe, Ronald D.
• Application Number:
  US13/891,140
• Publication Number:
  US 20130254820A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/110
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/72 using electronic programme guides [EPG] focusing on identifying broadcast space time H04H60/39 ; menu type display of EPG in television receivers H04N21/47
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2221 being a cable television head-end CATV in broadcast systems H04H20/78
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25866 Management of end-user data customer care in data networks H04L41/5077
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2747 Remote storage of video programs received via the downstream path, e.g. from the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4333 Processing operations in response to a pause request
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4854 for modifying image parameters, e.g. image brightness, contrast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/60 Network structure or processes for video distribution between server and client or between remote clients; Control signalling between clients, server and network components; Transmission of management data between server and client , e.g. sending from server to client commands for recording incoming content stream; Communication details between server and client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/816 involving special video data, e.g 3D video
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/165 Centralised control of user terminal subsequent to an upstream request signal H04N7/17345; Registering at central by two-way working H04N7/17309
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 Handling of requests in head-ends

Abstract

Systems and methods for delivering media over a network are provided. Multiple media assets are stored on a server, as well as a representation for at least one media asset. The representation of a media asset is delivered to a client. A client user request based on selection of a representation is received, and the represented media asset is delivered from the server in response to the client user request.

Claims

1. A method for delivering media over the Internet, comprising:

storing a plurality of media assets on a server;

providing a representation for at least one of the plurality of media assets, wherein the representation of at least one of the plurality of media assets is delivered via a customizable user interface;

delivering the representation of at least one of the plurality of media assets to a first client device for display;

receiving a selection of the representation from the first client device; and

delivering from the server the represented media asset to the first client device via streaming in response to the selection received from the first client device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the representation is associated with an asset price, further comprising receiving a payment equal in value to the asset price associated with the selection.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the customizable user interface further displays one or more representations corresponding to locally-stored media assets.

4. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:

receiving a search query that includes search parameters;

determining one or more media assets that satisfy the search parameters; and

providing selectable representations for each of the one or more media assets that satisfy the search parameters.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein delivering the represented media asset in response to the selection by the first client device comprises:

providing a plurality of quality options in response to the selection by the first client device;

receiving a quality option selection corresponding to a selected quality option; and

delivering from the server the media asset to the first client device corresponding to the selected quality option.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein delivering the represented media asset in response to the selection by the first client device comprises:

providing a plurality of format options in response to the selection by the first client device, wherein each format option corresponds to a version of the represented media asset;

receiving a format option selection corresponding to a selected version of the represented media asset; and

delivering from the server to the first client device the selected version of the represented media asset.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the customizable user interface comprises a preselected set of representations based upon a user profile derived from user data related to past selections associated with the user profile.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

delivering the representation of at least one of the plurality of media assets to a second client device for display;

receiving a selection of the representation from the second client device; and

delivering the represented media asset to the second client device in response to the selection received from the second client device.

9. A method for delivering media over the Internet, comprising:

storing a plurality of media assets on a server;

providing a representation for at least one of the plurality of media assets, wherein the representation of at least one of the plurality of media assets is delivered via a customizable user interface;

delivering the representation of at least one of the plurality of media assets to a first client device for display;

receiving a selection of the representation from the first client device; and

delivering from the server the represented media asset to the first client device via packet delivery in response to the selection received from the first client device.